Valley is 9-1 against Rio Grande since April of 2017 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Saturday. The Vikings will square off against the Ravens at 10:00 a.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Valley came out on top against Del Norte on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive 21-run second inning. The Vikings were the clear victors by a 24-6 margin over the Knights. The Vikings' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Riley Michel
| 03/20/26 @ Del Norte | 4 |
| 03/19/26 @ Los Alamos | 1 |
| 03/18/26 @ Volcano Vista | 0 |
| 03/10/26 @ Belen | 4 |
| 03/09/26 @ Atrisco Heritage Academy | 1 |
| + 3 more games |
Riley Michel was excellent, going a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run, six RBI, and four runs. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 2.1 runs per game. The team also got some help courtesy of Zoe Stallworth, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs and four RBI.
Valley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .844. The last time their OBP was this high was back in April of 2025.
Meanwhile, Rio Grande hadn't done well against Manzano recently (they were 2-7 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. The Ravens put the hurt on the Monarchs with a sharp 13-2 victory. While the Ravens didn't have the best season last year (they finished 8-18), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Kaylani Mirabal made a big impact no matter where she played. She pitched five innings while giving up just two earned runs off seven hits. Mirabal was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI. That home run was her first of the season.
In other batting news, Jenessa Purcella was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with one home run, two RBI, and one double. Another player making a difference was Ceanna Sanchez, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base.
Rio Grande pushed their record up to 6-3 with the win, which was their fifth straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 16.0 runs over those games. As for Valley, their record is now 5-6.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Saturday as neither team is afraid to steal. Valley has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Rio Grande struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.4 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Valley might still be hurting after the 16-5 defeat they got from Rio Grande in their previous meeting back in February. Can the Vikings avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
